Friday, May 9, 2014

Spring Knitting: Aisance Cardigan

It would serve us well were I to put together a detailed post to tell you all about my spring and summer crafting plans. But that would take organization, and I'm more busy doing things than writing about them these days.

Needless to say, there will be sewing and knitting and this summer, my express goal is to learn new skills. The leather bag is one sewing project (techique: sewing with leather). Completion of the Rosie top (one that fits) is another (technique: fitting woven bodice sloper).

As it happens, I am overwhelmed with creative ideas. Maybe it's on account of moving from the kind of dead winter that wracked the back off of my century home (let's not talk about what that entails and how much it's likely going to cost to fix) into a spring that still feels a bit like winter (but with more light). Maybe it's because I haven't had a headache - of any description - for 3 months, the longest I've gone without being addled with head pain in more than three years.

I'm loath even to mention that because I cannot bring myself to get attached to a pain-free head. But just to keep it real, in the exact moment my headaches disappeared (on a dime), I discovered a new symptom on the bumpy road of perimenopause. I've been dealing with rather wretched digestive issues that impinge on my physical freedom in a totally new-to-me way. Estrogen balance influences serotonin levels and serotonin lives mostly in two places: the brain and the gut. On the plus side, everyone agrees that it's better to go from having crushing migraines to digestive misery than the other way around. And we have a game plan for dealing with the latter.

After finishing the Svalbard - a sweater I had misgivings about on the basis of shape - I realize that it's my go-to hand knit these days. Sure, the shape may not be my most naturally flattering, but it works in my wardrobe.

This is another yarn hog pattern - one which I have not cheaped out on. I've gone with this silk-merino blend:

BTW, this is another project that Sara and Andrea and I will undertake as a mini-KAL (in our own time). They've also bought this yarn, which is phenomenal, for what it's worth. I have to wait to see how it wears, before I weigh in definitively, but the bloom and drape of the fabric it makes are perfect for the Aisance. It's fantastic looking yarn that does not grow overly when blocked, that doesn't get cloudy (a propensity of silk yarn which I hate), and that looks like a million bucks.

On the topic of local sourcing, the three of us got this yarn from Ewe Knit (our LYS) which stocks an array of colours (intriguingly, at the best price we've been able to find for the brand). Claudia, the owner, has special-ordered out-of-stock colours for Andrea and Sara, which is why I've got the head start.

A couple of things I'll say about the Aisance:
This pattern is delicious to knit - a bit interesting, but not overly. Perfect for TV or chatting with friends... I will say, however, that I wish I hadn't followed the directions at the start - those for making the neckband. As far as I'm concerned, provisional cast on is a terrible method to use with rib - as, by nature, it always creates a jog in stitches (see this useful post for information about why that's the case). You won't notice it with blocked stockinette, but this method is totally observable on the rib back-neck of this sweater - in much the way a seam would be. Mind you, at least a seam would make the join strong! Furthermore, this method means that one creates two different slip-stitch edges on each side of the cardigan - something that offends my sense of order completely. I've strongly recommended to Sara and Andrea to simply seam the centre back,which will mitigate both of these issues. Too late for me, alas.

Re: provisional cast on - and I taught myself to crochet for the privilege of completely irritating the crap out of myself - I can imagine that there are times when this method is just the thing. However, I think those times are far and few between. I've used it twice in the 3 years I've been knitting and I've been unimpressed both times...

Having said all of this, I do appreciate the way the sweater comes together - not dissimilarly to the Svalbard in its construction (though FAR more easily). You don't need to knit the band at the end - a very tedious way to finish a sweater, I assure you - instead you knit it as you go. And the back of the sweater has both rib stitch and shaping, to give it an excellent stability and an elegant line. I'm really hope I called the size right, and that this finished garment will become a summer staple.

Today's questions: What are your thoughts about provisional cast on (doing it, the result it achieves etc.)? What do you think of this sweater pattern? And have you worked with Shibui yarns? Thoughts or feelings? Let's talk!

10 comments:

Gorgeous! I can't wait to see what you make! BTW, I used the provisional cast on for the funky grandpa (readying my blog post) and thought it was difficult to understand at first but now fully realize its potential! I think your yard will work fantastically for the sweater. Great job -- I think I'm knitted out (I have great projects on the back burner) and may move to sewing as soon as I return from Hawaii on a work matter! Knit On K!

I give Staccato a squeeze every time I'm in EweKnit and one of these days I'm going to buy a sweater's worth and luxuriate. To my never-ending surprise, I keep being drawn to the Hitofude Cardigan, which is not my style at all but looks like something I'd live in all summer. Tricky.

I will wait for your review of the yarn, though, before committing. If I don't use it for a sweater/cardigan, goodness knows there are a dozen shawl patterns it would be perfect for.

Isn't it delicious? That yarn would be perfect for the Hitofude. I have a feeling this is my new go-to silk blend. It's like when I found Madeline Tosh DK. And Quince Finch. And BT Loft. You just know when you have a yarn that's right.

I'm knitting with Staccato right now and I love it. It is not the gauge I needed, so I am using it doubled, but it was the best choice in my LYS. I think you will enjoy knitting with it, I am planning on using it again.

I dislike provisional cast-on with rib and I would go another way. With stockinette it is fine. It is fine with garter stitch. I will go out of my way to use it with rib, but if someone has a solution that works I am willing to listen.

Isn't it fantastic! What colour are you knitting with? I have to say, I cannot imagine another instance in which I'll use the provisional cast on for rib. Apparently the designer (Kristen Johnstone) uses that technique often. I do like her designs, but I wonder what her reasoning is vis a vis that cast on.

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